President Obama issued a proposal to Congress today seeking authorization for a three-year military operation that would ramp up the United States' fight against Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq, primarily through "a systematic and sustained campaign of airstrikes."

Speaking from the White House today, Obama reaffirmed that the proposed military action "does not call for the deployment of U.S. ground combat forces to Iraq or Syria."

But in a letter addressed to Congress included with his formal proposal, Obama says ground forces might be deployed "in other, more limited circumstances, such as rescue operations involving U.S. or coalition personnel or the use of special operations forces to take military action against ISIL leadership." The letter goes on:

It would also authorize the use of U.S. forces in situations where ground combat operations are not expected or intended, such as intelligence collection and sharing, missions to enable kinetic strikes, or the provision of operational planning and other forms of advice and assistance to partner forces.

Obama's proposal follows news that Kayla Mueller, the last American hostage being held by ISIS, was apparently killed during an airstrike on Raqqa, Jordan. Three other American hostages—James Foley, Steven J. Sotloff, and Peter Kassig—have also been killed by the terrorist group.

As the New York Times notes, the last time Congress was asked to approve an authorization of military force was by President Bush in 2002 to invade Iraq.

[Image via AP]